This is the best part of any holiday dinner. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows is what everyone looks forward to! You can make it in a mini baking dish to serve two for a small holiday menu, or you can double it and bake it in an 8-inch square casserole dish. Whatever you do (and I have directions for both below), keep your eye on the marshmallows as they toast so that they don't burn! And yes, there really is an egg in the filling--this is what makes it fluffy and light!
This Sweet Potato Marshmallows Casserole Recipe will change your life
If you think sweet potato casserole is just mashed sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, lean in, because I need to teach you the way.
Sweet potato casserole contains mashed sweet potatoes, but it also contains other ingredients that make it puff up and so fluffy. Twos whole egg in this casserole makes the sweet potatoes light and fluffy, almost like a soufflé. The milk and butter make it super creamy, and the addition of vanilla makes it border on dessert.
It's not your fault if you've been served bad sweet potato casserole in your life, and it's also not your fault if you've been the one serving it. The only good sweet potato casserole recipe in the world comes from Southern Living. All other recipes can exit stage left. Burn your recipe cards; memorize this recipe.
I know it sounds extreme (and it also sounds like I'm talking about my Southern Cornbread Dressing recipe), but sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and Southern Cornbread Dressing are two recipes that are sacred to me, and I will not tolerate renditions or bad versions. You're either with me or you're not.
You'll notice my sweet potato casserole doesn't contain cinnamon or any other spices, except vanilla. In my experience, those spices compete with the marshmallow flavors. Vanilla heightens the flavors of the marshmallows, and the two work together to create a sweet potato cloud. It's HEAVEN. If you feel you must, you can add a half-teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Sweet Potato Casserole ingredients
Sweet Potatoes. It's best to start with whole sweet potatoes. You need one pound for a small baking dish, or two pounds for an 8" square baking dish that serves 4-6.
Granulated Sugar.
Butter. Unsalted butter preferably, because we're adding salt to this recipe. Melt the butter just before starting on the recipe, and let it cool slightly to the side.
Milk. Whole milk is best.
Egg. One large egg.
Vanilla Extract.
Marshmallows. You can use a mix of mini and large marshmallows, or all of the same. If you use large ones, be sure to snip them in half.
How to make Sweet Potato Casserole
First, prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork, and roast them in a 400-degrees Fahrenheit oven for 40-50 minutes, or until soft. When you poke a skinny sharp knife all the way to the center of the sweet potato, it should be soft and yielding. The skin of the potatoes will start collapsing. Be sure the sweet potatoes are all the way cooked before proceeding. Let them cool for 20 minutes before attempting to handle.
Once the potatoes are done cooking, lower the oven to 350-degrees F. While the potatoes cool, whisk together the sugar, butter, milk, melted butter, vanilla and salt. Whisk together VERY well.
Next, scoop out the sweet potatoes and add them to the bowl with everything else. Use a spatula or hand mixer to beat the sweet potatoes into the mixture.
Test the temperature of the mixture, and if it feels barely lukewarm, it's time to add the eggs. Do not add the eggs if the mixture is hot. Instead, let it rest on the counter while occasionally mixing to cool.
Next, spread the mixture into the baking dish that you're using. Bake this for 20 minutes. Up to this point, you can make this up a day ahead of time. (See below for full instructions on making this ahead of time).
About 10 minutes before you want to serve this, sprinkle the marshmallows on top. Slide back into the oven for 5-10 minutes. Keep an eye on it so the marshmallows don't burn! Mini marshmallows toast faster than larger ones.
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe notes
If you want a small batch, I can help you! I have made this small batch sweet potato casserole in a mini (the same one that I used for my Southern Chocolate Cobbler). I use this oval 0.6L oven-safe baking dish when I want to serve two.
Basically, all I did was scale down the filling and adapt it for this small baking dish for two. While the original recipe calls for 2 whole eggs for over 4 pounds of potatoes, I used one whole egg for 1 pound of potatoes. The egg is what makes the filling super fluffy! Also, I promise it cooks completely in the oven.
See the recipe card below for exact notes on how to make this serve two for your Thanksgiving for Two thing.
This recipe also belongs in my roundup of Thanksgiving Recipes: Sides!
Sweet Potato and Marshmallows Casserole FAQs
You can make this casserole ahead of time up through step 4. Let it cool, cover it with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. On the day you want to serve it, place it in a 350-degree F oven for 30 minutes to warm it through. Then, 10 minutes before you want to serve it, add the marshmallows on top. Slide it back into the oven for 5-10 minutes, until the marshmallows toast and turn lightly golden brown. As marshmallows sit, they dissolve fully into sugar. So, if you add and toast the marshmallows too soon, they will melt and dissappear! Warm the casserole through and add the marshmallows just 10 mintues before serving for best results with this recipe!
Yes, this recipe is for an 8x8" pan, but you can double it exactly and bake it in a 9x13" pan for a bigger Thanksgiving celebration. To make it for two, check the recipe card for ingredient amounts, and bake it in this small casserole dish.
If you have leftovers, cover in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. The marshmallows will slowly disappear, which just means they have melted into the sweet potatoes. They still taste amazing. If you want to top with more marshmallows and toast, you can!
In my opinion, it is much better to bake sweet potatoes that will be used for a casserole. This is because baking concentrates the flavors, while boiling adds water to the vegetable. We want creamy, fluffy casseroles, not soggy ones!
Eggs provide two things: emulsion and lift. Eggs bind all of the casserole ingredients together, and when eggs are baked, they rise and puff up in the oven. Eggs are key to a great casserole.
Yams are actually a different genus than sweet potatoes. Yam skin is brown, and yams are typically longer and skinnier than sweet potatoes. Both yams and sweet potatoes can be any color (white, orange, red, or purple).
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope your turkey is moist, your sweet potatoes are fluffy, your dressing is perfect, your gravy is smooth, and your cranberry sauce is tangy!
Other sides you might like:
-Broccoli Rice Chicken Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows in 8-inch square dish. You can double it for a 9x13 dish.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh sweet potatoes
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400, and gather ingredients. Line a sheet pan with foil, and place the sweet potatoes on it. Prick them with a fork, and then bake for 40-50 minutes, depending on their size. Test with a fork to ensure they're done--their skins will start to collapse when they're soft. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven.
- Lower the oven temp to 350, and let the sweet potatoes cool for at least 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and salt.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and add them to the bowl. Stir and mash everything together to combine. Finally, stir in the egg.
- Spread the mixture into a small 20-ounce (0.6L) baking dish, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish, scatter the marshmallows on top, and bake for another 5-10 minutes, until the marshmallows toast and become lightly golden brown. Serve immediately.
Notes
To make this ahead of time: You can make this casserole ahead of time up through step 4. Let it cool, cover it with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. On the day you want to serve it, place it in a 350-degree F oven for 30 minutes to warm it through. Then, 10 minutes before you want to serve it, add the marshmallows on top. Slide it back into the oven for 5-10 minutes, until the marshmallows toast and turn lightly golden brown. As marshmallows sit, they dissolve fully into sugar. So, if you add and toast the marshmallows too soon, they will melt and dissappear! Warm the casserole through and add the marshmallows just 10 mintues before serving for best results with this recipe!
You can make this serve two in a small 0.6L baking dish (linked below) using these measurements and the same cooking time: 1 pound sweet potatoes, 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, 2 tablespoons whole milk, 1 large egg, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 362Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 340mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 5gSugar: 37gProtein: 6g
Babs says
Hi,
Do you use organic marshmallows? If so, what brand and from which store?
Leila says
Trader Joe's has marshmallows that are less unhealthy but not organic. They're vegan too
bethany says
By any chance do you know the amounts of the pecan topping? And do you do that instead of the marshmallows? Would love to know the other option
Janabelle says
I love that there is not an overload of sugar in this. So many recipes call for a ton of sugar and it's too sweet. I usually do marshmallows in the center and then surround them with the streusel so that folks can get the style they want. One sister can't eat nuts due to diverticulitis so it gives her an option and yet those of us who prefer the streusel can still have it. I usually get a bit of both in my scoop. ;-)
Rhonda says
What size dish is 20 ounces in inches
Melissa says
If I were to double this recipe and cook it in a metal/foil (throw away dish), do you think it would need to cooked in the oven longer?
Christina Lane says
Great question! When I double it, I bake it for 30-40 minutes. Since it has an egg in it, you can always temperature test it to make sure it's done.
Carol says
Is there any problem with assembling this a few hours before baking? Thanks
Christina Lane says
It's totally fine, but place the marshmallows on just before :)
Marlene says
Is it ok to prep the mashed sweet potatoes the night before baking/storing in fridge?
Christina Lane says
Yes :) Good idea!
Irina Benischek says
Do I double the sugar and eggs etc if making double sweet potatoes?
Christina Lane says
Yes